The Prince returned home to Starling and was welcomed home by the king and queen, they didn't say much to him as he avoided their eyes and said he was going to his room. Diggle followed the prince with his bags.

"What happened, man?"

"Our engagement is off" Oliver sat down on his bed with his elbows on his knees "Felicity called it off and she's going to marry Slade" his voice was complete monotone and void of any emotion even though to say the words caused his heart to painfully skip a beat

"Does she know you're…?" Diggle left the question open as he put the prince's bags down and opened them

"No, she doesn't know I'm The Arrow. I nearly told her before she told me her half thought out plan. You should have seen her, I know that she doesn't love Slade, all she wants is to save her kingdom. Marrying Slade will buy her some time but I know that Slade has bigger plans than just marrying the princess – Felicity is the first step too…I don't know" Oliver thought hard but came up blank. The Prince hated this! The love of his life was going to marry someone else and put herself in danger, probably get herself killed if she didn't behave.

Oliver came up with a plan to give him an excuse as to why he would be gone for the foreseeable future – the Prince would be travelling the world to heal from losing his bride – while The Arrow would be in Arkham keeping an eye on the Princess. Diggle made plans for a plane to take them secretly back to Arkham before following Oliver to talk to the king and queen.

"This…this is so sudden" the queen was shocked that her son would be leaving so soon "you just got back Oliver"

"Everything here reminds me of Felicity" the lie slipped passed his lips with ease but he knew that the lies that were half true were easier to tell "I can't…I can be here" his voice broke "I need to go…away. I'm going on a trip for a while"

"Whatever you need, son" the king patted the prince on the shoulder "we're here for you, I know this is a difficult thing to deal with"

Oliver gave his parents a thankful smile before nodding his head and marching back to his room, grabbing his bag and setting off with Diggle again. The Prince was home for a mere hour – a new record. The Arrow would be back in Arkham and back to watching his Princess marrying another man.

News, gossip and rumours about the royal engagement coming to an end were flying high in Arkham and the Princess couldn't help but notice the looks she got from the ladies that visited that palace or from the women on the street. They thought her mad for calling it off with the Prince of Starling, the nastiest of the rumours going around among the common people was that she simply must be a lesbian for sending the Prince home. That one hurt her more than she was letting on but I'm doing this for you! She wanted to shout I let the Prince go so that you could be safe! Countless newspapers and reporters begged for an interviews but Felicity refused them all. The Princess had never refused an interview in her life.

This morning, technically last night, she had sent the love of her life away. Over and over she told herself it was to keep up safe but her heart still wept for her Oliver; and The Arrow.

Just a little while ago Slade had come to her, wanting to know if what the palace staff were saying was true and if the Prince was really gone. Felicity silently nodded without looking at her advisor as a sour taste flooded her mouth, she swallowed quickly when Slade came to her side.

"You must be hurting" Slade said understandingly "I will give you time to grieve and then we will be married…to save time, we'll use everything from the preparations of your previous wedding. It was and will be a beautiful affair" Slade stroked her cheek tenderly and smiled when she flinched from his touch "you're not used to other men, I understand. I will make you happy Felicity just as you will make me very happy"

Felicity saw Slade smile from the corner of her eye before he bowed and left her to her grief. She was the marry Slade, the thought made her want to vomit until she turned on the TV and saw a private jet in Starling on the news, she saw Oliver boarding it and listened to the reporter explaining how the 'broken Prince' was going to heal his wounded heart by flying around the world. Countless women were waving the Prince farewell and Felicity hated to think of all the women waiting for her Prince in every other country in the world.

That night for the second time, The Arrow scaled the palace walls to Felicity's chambers and looked through her window. The Princess was standing by her mirror trying on her wedding dress with her ladies standing around her oooing and complimenting her. The Princess wore a smile but it was empty of all emotion, her eyes screamed unhappiness but it was the smile that fooled the ladies.

The ladies left the Princess for a minute and The Arrow took his chance, he opened the window and silently climbed through. Felicity began to unzip her dress when she heard the soft squeak of leather and turned to face The Arrow "I told you to go back to Starling and take care of Oliver" she said a little too harshly biting her tongue at her attitude

"You asked me to go and I refused" The Arrow returned her attitude with his own but took a deep breath to calm himself "please Felicity, I am here to protect you from Slade and I won't –"

"-Please don't! I don't want to hear it" Felicity turned away again "I am doing this for my people and they hate me now. I am protecting them and they whisper behind my back and call me names. I have no one and I'm so terrified" in a flurry of white silk and beading she turned and raced to The Arrow and jumped into his arms and nearly cried when The Arrow didn't push her away but held her close and tight. The green vigilante soothed her, saying that she wasn't alone and that he would find a way to free her from the marriage.

"Will I ever see Oliver again? Will he…will he still love me after everything I've done?" Felicity asked and then her eyes widened as she realized something "I-we-you and I kissed! Oliver will never forgive me! And if Slade finds out he–"

"Prince Oliver has, regrettably, cheated on many women in his life" The Arrow tried to smile "and you are well aware of it and you still love him with all your heart?"

"Yes"

"Then I'm sure Oliver will forgive you for one kiss in your time of distress. The Prince and I are close" Felicity smiled at that "and you will see him again, Oliver will make sure of it and so will I"

"I'm scared" Felicity's voice shook

"I know, I'll get you out of this that I promise you" The Arrow wiped her eyes and looked toward the doors at the sound of chattering and quickly climbed out the window "I am sorry for your upcoming wedding" was the last thing he said before dropping down into the darkness.

"…Prince Oliver of Starling was last seen boarding a plane to Paris after the dreadful end to his engagement with Princess Felicity of Arkham. No doubt the Prince is finding comfort in these heartbreaking times…"

"Apparently, the Princess is to wed her own royal advisor Slade Wilson who has gone on to talk of his plans for the kingdom and further as well as his happy marriage to the love of his –"

"Turn that off!" Oliver came into the small hotel room and angrily sat down on the bed while Diggle muted the TV "I don't want to hear anything about the wedding" he sneered and kicked off his boots

"Sorry, did you see Felicity?" Diggle asked hopefully looking over at his friend who was sprawled out on his small single bed

"She is going to marry Slade, that much is true, but she isn't happy" Oliver closed his eyes and imagined Felicity's eyes "You should see her Dig, the light from her eyes is getting smaller, she loves her people and is nearly blind to anything else. If she goes ahead with this I…I'll lose her and I can't do that" Oliver opened his eyes and sat up "we'll go and talk to the common people, Slade has people working for him so we stick to the old plan: gather information and use it against him to ruin him" The Prince spoke with passion and drive "we'll get her away from him as quickly as possible"

Three days later the palace servants were running themselves ragged to prepare everything from food to clothing, to decorations and bedding for those who would stay the night at the palace.

Felicity woke up in tears – the ladies in waiting thought they were tears of joy and Felicity pretended as such. A wedding was meant to be a happy affair but the Princess wanted nothing more than to run away to Paris and find Oliver.

The Queen was beside herself with joy – trying to set her up with other suitors when Slade was the perfect one for her to marry all along. Felicity wanted to strangle her mother for talking about Slade being the perfect husband: a trusted friend to the royal family, he was perfect because he knew the royal family and its history so well and he knew the people and how they thought. Just like the Princess.
Felicity wanted desperately to tell her mother everything but one knowing look from Slade silenced her. If the Princess so much as hinted at anything being wrong Slade promised he would kill the Queen.

The Princess greeted her new fiancé as he was in the throne room ordering servants around, with a weak smile on her face she said: "I can't believe that today's the day" she tried to sound excited as she stared at Slade with what she hoped was a loving look "I was wondering if it would be alright if I stepped out for a little while?"

"What do you mean, darling?" Slade stopped ordering the servants and gave her his full attention "is something wrong?"

"Just umm...wedding jitters I expect"

"I hope you're not getting cold feet" Slade gently rubbed up and down her arms and stared deep into her eyes

"Just butterflies is all...would you mind if I went for a walk or something?"

"Of course, sweetheart" Slade came forward and kissed her cheek "take all the time you need" he said kindly "but be back soon! You need to be getting ready, I hear there's a big party going on" he joked and watched as Felicity faked a laugh and went outside alone.

Once outside, Felicity grabbed her phone and dialled The Arrow's number and waited anxiously "Princess" The Arrow's voice came through

"The wedding! It's today!" Felicity couldn't hold back her worry "we're getting married to-day!"

"What?!" Three days wasn't enough time! They still needed more information on Slade

"I guess three days is more than enough time to grieve, huh?" Felicity couldn't believe that she was trying to make a joke at a time like this "can you come back to Arkham? Please I...I need someone"

"I never left. I'm here. I told you that I wouldn't leave you behind" Felicity heard The Arrow pick up his keys and heavy footsteps and then a motorcycle engine starting.

Felicity wanted to wait for The Arrow but she was called back inside by a servant, it was time to get ready for the ceremony.
The Princess would bathe in rose oil and lavender for an hour, her hair would be brushed and then a special hair mask to make it soft and shiny was applied and left in for half an hour. Nails were panted, skin was exfoliated and hair was washed out. The Princess was ready for her hair to be styled and her wedding dress to be put on.
All the while she silently begged The Arrow to come for her, to whisk her away from all of this. The Arrow never came.

The ceremony went off without a hitch. Reporters photographed everything from afar, journalists wrote everything down that was said and all the guests oooed and ahhhed with every proclamation of love. The vows were said and 'I do's were promised, the crowd burst into applause when the newly married couple kissed for the first time.
All were cheering in their seats, some were even crying. All but one.

The Arrow watched from up high on a rooftop, he watched with a heated glare as his Princess was married to another, promised to love another forever in sickness and in health until death claimed them. The Arrow wanted nothing more than to skewer Slade right now but with Felicity there he didn't want to risk hurting her. The Arrow could only watch with his broken heart barely beating in his chest.

That night was the reception. The happy couple were inseparable, they ate, and they danced and talked and laughed along with their guests. Felicity looked around the hall every free chance she got; stupidly hoping that she would catch The Arrow. Slade made sure his bride wasn't alone for too long, his hands never left her skin; Felicity couldn't get away.

The Arrow perched himself on the roof above the Princess's bedroom window and listened, apparently she was alone and he could finally see her, he jumped down onto her balcony and tapped on the window. The Princess let him in, her hand grabbing a fistful of his green leather jacket and pulled him to her; they fell into each other's arms and held on tight. The Arrow apologised again and again as Felicity shook in his arms.

"I can't believe this! I thought that you said you would help" her voice wasn't accusing but the statement still held some raw emotion

"I'm still looking for information, I didn't think that Slade would do this so soon" The Arrow said angrily

"Have you…have you seen Oliver at all?" Felicity asked awkwardly and looked down at her dress "this umm this was the dress I bought for…for him"

"The Prince has heard word of your marriage, he is hurting but I'll explain that it's simply a marriage of convenience. You still love him"

"I do, I love him still, he might not love me after this" Felicity quickly looked toward the door as it opened, she pushed The Arrow out the window and closed the curtains "darling!" The Arrow heard her exclaim happily "I was wondering where you got to" she cooed

The Arrow peeked through the curtains and saw Slade saunter up to Felicity, his hands lacing through her hair and pulling the pins out and letting her hair cascade down her back. Slade looked at his bride like she was a possession, his voice was soft with an edge but the Arrow couldn't make out what he was saying. The Arrow looked away when Felicity's dress was slowly being pulled from her shoulders and her bare back was displayed. Scared whimpers and rough moans echoed in his ears as The Arrow leapt down into the darkness wishing it would swallow him.

A/N: Sorry I didn't go into a lot of detail but the next chapter will be the ending from Felicity's POV and I'll put in more detail. Poor Felicity!